Elkton farmer receives state agriculturist honor

Danny Johns, second from left, with former St. Johns County agricultural agents: David Dinkins, from left, who presented Johns with his UF/IFAS honor during the state meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach; Nettie Ruth Brown and Jim Dilbeck. Contributed photo.

A fourth generation St. Johns County farmer was honored last week as a friend of UF/IFAS Extension, receiving a Florida Association of County Agriculture Agents Outstanding Agriculturist Award when the Extension Professional Association of Florida gathered in Ponte Vedra Beach.

More than 400 attended the conference, and some 300 were in attendance at the luncheon when Danny Johns, owner of Blue Sky Farms in Elkton, accepted the honor as part of a group of individuals singled out for service to the agricultural industry in Florida.

“He’s a great educator,” David Dinkins, sustainable agriculture agent in the area, said as he presented Johns with his award.

“People don’t think of farmers as educators,” Dinkins said, but “in three years more than 3,000 people” have visited Blue Sky Farms through a variety of programs including the Tour de Farm to the leadership program hosted by the Northeast Regional Council.

Johns was nominated for the statewide honor by Keith Fuller, St. Johns County horticulture agent.

“He’s been a very civic minded farmer,” Fuller said, having “hosted many agricultural events.”

Johns is “committed to staying in farming,” Fuller said, “when many people have sold farms and quit. It’s nice to see that southwest corner of the county as agriculture and not so much development. We need to recognize and appreciate those people who are making that so.”

Johns termed his recognition as “quite an honor and quite unexpected.”

Farming, he said, is “challenging and a very rewarding lifestyle, because no two days are the same.” There is always “uncertainty.”

Johns described a farmer as “a risk mitigator. Farming is a risky business with the weather.”

Johns who began farming after school at about age 13 when he worked on his brother Frank’s Tater Farms, went into farming full time at age 20.

Through the years he has served his county, the state and nation, serving as a director of the National Potato Board and on the U.S. Potato Board as an executive committee member and Florida representative.

Through his national association he participated, some years ago, in the 2006 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, or as Dinkins suggested, tongue in cheek, “He was such a good leader, he could lead Mr. Potato Head in a parade.”

His service has also included the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association board of directors and the Northeast Florida Grower’s Exchange, a group for which he’s served as president “for at least five years,” Fuller estimates.

He’s supported UF/IFAS Extension and he’s worked with IFAS personnel on farm trials related to fertilization, irrigation, varieties, salinity and other production practices.

Currently, Johns is working with First Coast Fresh Growers Cooperative, with several local farmers teaming up to supply produce to local grocery stores. Wells Brothers, Barnes and Blue Sky Farms are joining in this venture.

Currently Blue Sky is seeding St. Augustine Sweet onions, and a fall crop of potatoes should be ready in December, Johns said, explaining that “we’re doing things outside the box.”

He’s ready and willing to open his farm to local programs so the public can see how farmers operate, Johns said, and frequently, as a result of these programs, the public asks how individuals can help. The answer, says Johns, is “support local farmers.”

This is especially important, Johns concludes, in light of the fact that when he started farming in the 1970s there were more than 100 farmers in the tri-county area. Today the number has dwindled to about 30.

Joining Johns last week when he was honored were his mother Charlotte of St. Augustine; and two sisters, Doree Giles and Helen Henderson.

A father of two, Brent, 27, and Danielle, 24, Johns says that neither has expressed an interest in farming — at least not at this point.

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